Bristol County, MA Sign Regulations: Political Signs (2026)
Key Facts
- Private Property
- Allowed, size-limited
- Public ROW
- Prohibited (MGL ch. 85 §8)
- State Highways
- MassDOT removal
- Post-Election
- Remove within 7 days
- Framework
- Content-neutral per Reed v. Gilbert
Summary
Political signs allowed on private property in Bristol County under First Amendment and Reed v. Town of Gilbert. MGL ch. 54 and local sign codes impose reasonable time/place/manner limits. Signs in state highway ROW prohibited by MassDOT.
At an election of state or city officers, and of town officers in towns where official ballots are used, the presiding election officer at each polling place shall, before the opening of the polls, post at least three cards of instruction, three cards containing abstracts of the laws imposing penalties upon voters, and at least three specimen ballots within the polling place outside the guard rail, and have available at the check in area at state elections a number of copies of the information for voters material provided for in section fifty-four at least one for every one hundred voters; and no other poster, card, handbill, placard, picture or circular intended to influence the action of the voter shall be posted, exhibited, circulated or distributed in the polling pl
Full Breakdown
Fall River, New Bedford, and Taunton all regulate political signs through their zoning sign codes consistent with Reed v. Town of Gilbert (2015), which bars content-based restrictions. Signs on private property are generally permitted without permit, typically limited to 6 to 16 square feet in residential districts. Signs in public rights-of-way, on utility poles, on traffic signs, and on state highway ROW (Routes 24, 140, 195, 24) are prohibited and subject to removal by DPW or MassDOT. Most local ordinances previously imposed pre-election start dates and post-election removal deadlines; those have been revised since Reed to apply uniformly to all temporary signs. Post-election removal typically expected within 7 days. Political signs on public property are barred by MGL ch. 85 §8.
Violations & Fines
Signs in right-of-way: removed by DPW without notice. Signs on state highways: MassDOT removal. Oversized private-property signs: zoning notice to reduce or remove, typical fine $50 to $300.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are typical penalties for violating political signs rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bristol County
Compare Bristol County to another location·View the Massachusetts sign regulations overview
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